About Melissa Olivero

Melissa Olivero for Circuit Judge | 13th Judicial Circuit

Melissa Olivero’s life exemplifies a commitment to service. She is a U.S. Army veteran, serving eight years as a Military Police platoon leader, company commander, and battalion staff officer on active duty and in the reserves. Her service took her to Germany during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and later to Fort Lewis Washington. Most recently, she has served as a judge for the National Labor Relations Board, traveling across the country hearing complex unfair labor practice cases and deciding questions concerning union representation. Previously, she served as a judge for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. She is a former LaSalle County Assistant State’s Attorney. She has over 28 years of litigation experience in criminal law, civil law, administrative law, and municipal law, including appeals before the state and federal appellate courts.

She served ten years on the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees, including four years as Board Chair. She has also served as president of National Labor Relations Union Local 33, president of Zonta of LaSalle-Peru Area, treasurer of the Federal Administrative Law Judges’ Conference. She has been honored as the Northern Illinois University Alumni of the year and received the prestigious Illinois State Bar Association Award for Civics Education. In 2025, she and her husband were chosen as LaSalle-Peru Township High School’s Super Fans of the year.

In her personal life, she is a coach, Scout leader, and Rotarian. She and her husband, Attorney Doug Olivero, reside in Peru, Illinois, with their two sons.

Melissa is experienced, fair, honest, and connected to our community. She looks forward to serving the people of the 13th Judicial Circuit as their next Circuit Judge.

ISBA: 2024 Illinois State Bar Association Civic Engagement Award Recipient

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United States Administrative Law Judge, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Washington, DC. 2013-2025.
  • Served with nationwide jurisdiction as one of only 30 judges nationwide empowered to hear cases brought under the National Labor Relations Act.
  • Presided over lengthy and complex trials throughout the United States and its territories. Ensured a complete record and ruled on the admission of evidence and objections.
  • Conducted pre-trial conferences to discuss evidentiary issues, settlement, and motions.
  • Wrote and issued lengthy decisions, including findings of fact, conclusions of law, and an order and remedy. Decisions involved making credibility determinations. All decisions were published on the NLRB’s website and are appealable to the full Board in Washington, D.C and then to the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal.
United States Administrative Law Judge, Social Security Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, Orland Park, Illinois, and Springfield, Missouri.

(Please note that Social Security has since renamed this office as the Office of Hearings and Appeals.)

  • Presided over 1,000 hearings involving applications for benefits under SSI and SSDI.
  • Prepared for hearings by reviewing applications, earnings histories, and voluminous medical records.
  • Wrote decisions in every case either approving or denying the application for benefits. Decisions were appealable to the Appeals Council in Washington, D.C., and then the Federal District Courts.
Field Attorney, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Peoria, Illinois. 2005-2011
  • Investigated unfair labor practice charges. Requested subpoenas, issued requests for information, interviewed witnesses, and reviewed evidence supplied by unions, employers, and individuals. In each instance, made recommendations to Regional management regarding the issuance of complaints by the Region and potential petitions for injunctive relief in Federal District Court.
  • Tried unfair labor practice cases before administrative law judges. Requested to try cases in other Regions across the country, including Region 28 (Phoenix) and Region 15 (New Orleans). Filed pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs with the judges regarding legal issues. Responsible for formulating trial strategies.
  • Conducted elections for employees seeking union representation. Conducted pre-election and post-election hearings as hearing officer to determine questions concerning representation and ruling on elections objections.
  • Served as president of National Labor Relations Board Union Local 33 for three years. In this capacity, filed and adjusted grievances and engaged in collective bargaining regarding local issues.
Assistant State’s Attorney, LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office, Ottawa, Illinois. 2001-2005 and 1997-1999.
  • Filed, attempted to negotiate settlement, and tried criminal cases in misdemeanor and felony court. Sought orders of protection on behalf of victims of domestic and child abuse. Filed and tried juvenile delinquency and neglect actions.
  • Tried over a dozen jury trials and over 100 bench trials to verdict. Appeared in dozens of contested sentencing hearings.
  • Led first Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit in LaSalle County. Obtained two grants for almost one million dollars in federal funding for the new domestic violence division.
  • Trained police officers on gathering evidence in domestic violence cases and issues in securing warrants. Trained teachers and first responders on recognizing signs of abuse.
  • Represented State’s Attorney in 13th Judicial Circuit Family Violence Coordinating Council and Child Advocacy Center Board.
Associate Attorney, Cremer, Kopon, Shaughnessy & Spina, Chicago. 2000-2001
  • Represented corporations, nursing homes, religious orders, and other clients in negligence and coverage matters.
  • Filed pleadings and motions in all cases.
  • Directed discovery and took depositions from parties, witnesses, and experts.
  • Trained nursing home administrators and nurses on nursing home laws.
  • Appeared in state and federal court and before arbitrators and mediators.
Associate Attorney, Norton, Mancini, Weiler, DeAno & Argentati, Wheaton, Illinois. 1999-2000.
  • Represented motorists, physicians, municipalities, and other clients in negligence matters.
  • Filed pleadings and motions in all cases.
  • Directed discovery and took depositions from parties, witnesses, and experts.
  • Appeared in state and federal courts and before arbitrators and mediators.
Elected Trustee, Illinois Valley Community College District No. 513, Oglesby, IL. 2009-2019
  • Elected by citizens of eight counties to two terms on the Board (top vote recipient in both elections). Elected to two terms as Board Chair by other trustees. Also served as Board Vice Chair and representative to Illinois Community College Trustees Association.
  • Led Board of Trustees in overseeing overall college operations and performance of college president with an annual budget of over $30,000,000.
  • Led Board in establishing institutional priorities in cooperation with college administration.
  • Approved contracts and expenditures.
  • Evaluated institutional performance.
  • Represented the college to the community and the community to the college.
  • Established tuition and tax rates, always balancing the interests of the students and taxpayers.
Company Commander, Platoon Leader, Battalion Personnel Officer, United States Army. 1990-1998.
  • Combat-support military police officer. Led units in field training exercises and garrison activities, including law enforcement activities.
  • Responsible for welfare, training, and administration of units ranging from 30-150 people.
  • Additional duties as dining facility officer, supply officer, morale and welfare officer, motor pool officer, and training officer.
  • Directed personnel section during battalion deployment to Panama in 1995.
  • Desert Shield/Desert Storm-era Veteran. Served at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Mannheim, Germany, and Fort Lewis, Washington on active duty. Reserve duty in Rosemont, Illinois.
  • Awards and decorations include Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Parachutist Badge (Airborne).
  • Honorably discharged at rank of Captain in 1998.
Education
  • Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1990.
  • Distinguished Military Graduate and recipient of Presidential Leadership Award and Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America Award. Selected as one of 50 men and women in Senior Leadership Honor Society. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in U.S. Army upon graduation.
  • Honor Graduate, United States Army Military Police School, Fort McClellan, Alabama, 1991.
  • Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, Northern Illinois University College of Law, DeKalb, Illinois, 1997.
Bar Association Honors & Memberships
  • Illinois State Bar Association Civics Education Award (2024)
  • Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Current Member, 2003-present: Current Chair, Standing Committee for Law-Related Education for the Public; Current member, Standing Committee, Judicial Evaluations Outside Cook County. Current member Administrative Law, Bench & Bar, Labor & Employment Law, Rural Practice, and Senior Lawyers Sections. Current member of ISBA Speaker’s Bureau and Lawyers in the Classroom Program. Former member: Assembly (two terms), Standing Committee on Women and the Law (Secretary 2015-2016, Vice Chair 2016-2017, Chair 2017-2018), Bench & Bar Section Council, Standing Committee on Government Lawyers, Diversity Leadership Council.
  • Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Third District, 2013-2022.
  • American Bar Association, Current Member, 2011-present: National Conference of the Administrative Law Judiciary, Criminal Justice Section, and Section of Labor and Employment Law.
  • LaSalle County Bar Association, Current Member, 2001-present.
  • Federal Administrative Law Judges’ Conference, Current Member, 2013-present, serving as Treasurer (elected). Previously served as NLRB delegate to the Executive Committee (2018-2024).
  • National Association of Women Judges, Current Member, 2013-present.
Volunteerism
  • Elected Trustee, Illinois Valley Community College, 2009-2019. Delegate to Illinois Community College Trustees’ Association 2009-2011, Board Vice Chair 2011-2013, Board Chair 2013-2017. Served on Audit-Finance, Planning, Facilities, Closed Session Minutes Committees. Commencement speaker 2020.
  • Zonta Club of LaSalle-Peru Area, 2003-present. Woman of the Year, 2011. Club Director (2003-2004), Vice President (2004-2006), President (2006-2008). Zonta International, District 6, Area Director (2008-2010).
  • Peru Rotary Club, 2019-present.
  • Peru Cub Scout Pack 3709, Cubmaster and Committee member, 2015-2020, 2024-present.
  • Peru Boy Scout Troop 123, Scoutmaster, 2021-present. Awards: District Award of Merit, 2022, Unit Leader Award of Merit, 2024.
  • Peru Little League Coach, 2014-2020. Peru Little League Board of Directors 2023-2024.
  • Middle School Coach: Golf 2019-2023, Scholastic Bowl 2018-2023, Basketball 2015-2018, Bowling 2024.
  • High School Coach: Mock Trial 2023-present.
  • Northern Illinois University, Alumnus of the Year (Law) 2014.
  • National Labor Relations Board Union (NLRBU) Local 33 President, 2008-2011.